Research & Policy Manager, Agriculture

University of Chicago; Washington (Washington County); Hybrid; USD 76,000 - 99,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago's Development Innovation Lab seeks a Research & Policy Manager to guide a growing portfolio of agricultural research projects from inception to completion and translate insights into actionable policy for governments and international institutions.

The role requires development economics expertise, strong organizational skills, and the ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams across partners and policymakers; travel is expected for field engagements.

Qualifications

• Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Experience leading or contributing to research and policy programs in international development is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee establishment and growth of external partnerships for new agricultural research.
• Develop and manage research projects ensuring timely delivery and alignment with goals.
• Supervise outputs from research staff and allocate tasks to ensure adequate support.
• Maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including funders and partners.
• Coordinate communications for policy makers: briefs, presentations, reports.

Skills

Policy analysis

Research management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Independent work

Education

Master’s degree in economics/public policy

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Department

SSD Development Economics Center: Staff and Temporary Employees

About the Department

The Development Innovation Lab at the University of Chicago uses the tools of economics to develop innovations with the potential to benefit millions of people in low- and middle-income countries. It was founded and is led by Nobel laureate Michael Kremer.

Job Summary

The job manages scientific research projects or scientific research facilities. Uses considerable on-the-job experience to ensure compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies. Works independently to write articles, reports and manuscripts, and presents research findings at meetings and/or conferences.

DIL is seeking a Research & Policy Manager to oversee a growing portfolio of agricultural research projects from inception to completion, and guide the translation of research insights into actionable policy recommendations and scaling initiatives. The Manager will bring expertise in development economics and evidence-based policy to manage DIL’s agricultural research and policy work, with a particular focus on disseminating research results relating to innovations in agriculture to policymakers in governments and international institutions. This role requires exceptional organizational skills, the ability to work independently while supporting collaborative teams, and experience managing complex, multi-faceted initiatives. The Research & Policy Manager will serve as a key liaison between leadership, research teams, implementation partners, and external stakeholders, ensuring projects are delivered on time and aligned with organizational goals.

Responsibilities

• Manage the establishment and growth of external partnerships to conduct new research and scale innovations in agriculture and food security.
• Develop and manage research projects according to plan, providing direct support on research projects as needed. Ensures that all aspects of the research projects are being conducted effectively and in a timely manner.
• Oversees output produced by research staff, including junior researchers, allocate tasks, and ensure sufficient research support.
• Develops and maintains effective working relations with internal and external stakeholders, including partners, funders and other collaborators.
• Solves complex problems relating to the administration of projects, including planning new procedures, adapting existing procedures to the needs of the project, and making significant contributions to methodology.
• Manage day-to-day project activities, including preparing for and facilitating internal and external meetings, ensuring tasks are completed on time and aligned with project goals.
• Provide direct support for faculty leads and collaborate with project partners to prepare for policy events and engagements; coordinates across stakeholders to ensure support smooth communication and collaboration.
• Manage project communications including preparing materials for policy makers (briefing documents, presentations, and reports), develop communications plans, and coordinate messaging across stakeholders, working in close coordination with faculty leads.
• Develop and refine processes and procedures for project implementation, tracking, and reporting.
• Manage development of high-quality project outputs including literature reviews, data summaries, and presentations; applying specialized knowledge of microeconomic theory and international development.
• Synthesize research findings and translate them for policy, practitioners, and general audiences.
• Apply sector expertise to evaluate potential engagements for alignment with DIL’s policy and research priorities.
• Coordinate fundraising efforts and identify opportunities for fundraising.
• Provide guidance, training and support to junior staff and project team members; support recruitment efforts.
• Uses subject matter and best practices knowledge to perform lab and/or research-related duties and tasks. Works independently to assist with project design.
• Guides data collection, evaluation and analysis. Designs and manages databases. Writes reports, articles and manuscripts.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree in a related field (economics, public policy, or other.)

Experience:

• Experience leading or contributing to RCTs, in low- or middle-income countries and in sectors related to agriculture, food security, or rural development.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex research and/or policy programs, preferably in the fields of international development, or development economics.
• Demonstrated understanding of impact evaluation, economics and statistics, agriculture, weather forecasting and government program implementation.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, drive simultaneous projects to completion with minimal supervision, andwork collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to synthesize evidence across multiple studies and translate findings into clear, accurate policy documents for diverse and cross-cultural audiences.
• Experience in one or more sectors related to DIL’s work (including agriculture, education, water treatment and child health)
• Demonstrated cross cultural communication abilities.
• Excellent organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail.

Working Conditions

• Candidates must be willing to travel as needed for their respective responsibilities.
• This is a hybrid position, with an expected 3 days on campus per week. Candidates will be expected to flexibly come into the office as needed.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• Professional References Contact Information (3)(required)

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$76,313.00 - $98,759.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case‑by‑case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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